NEEDHAM, Mass., Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- TripAdvisor®, the travel site that helps find
the latest reviews and lowest prices, today announced the
Travelers' Choice® awards for Destinations on the Rise.
The pristine blue waters and white sandy beaches of beautiful
Ishigaki, Japan earned the ranking
of number one in the world, while the small Hawaiian town of
Kapaa, nestled at the base of
Nounou Mountain on the picturesque island of Kauai ranked as the top rising spot in the
U.S.
The awards recognize 44 destinations around the world selected
by measuring year-over-year increase in positive TripAdvisor
traveler review ratings for accommodations, restaurants and
attractions, as well as increase in search and booking interest.
This is the sixth year of the awards. Travelers' Choice
Destinations on the Rise lists were also revealed for Europe, Asia
and South America.
"The Travelers' Choice Destinations on the Rise award winners
are a great source of inspiration for travelers interested in going
somewhere exciting that's emerging in popularity," said
Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of
communications for TripAdvisor. "These winners were based on
destination feedback and interest from the TripAdvisor community,
and a common thread is that they all have outstanding
accommodations, wonderful restaurants and exceptional attractions
for every travel budget."
Travelers' Choice Destinations on the Rise — U.S:
1. Kapaa,
Hawaii
Nestled at the base
of Nounou (the Sleeping Giant) Mountain on Kauai, Kapaa
is a tourist friendly spot with a diverse array of hotels, shopping
centers and restaurants. The Kinipopo Shopping Village is a
favorite among travelers for its fun eateries and small keepsake
shops. Fans of water sports will have plenty to do with options for
snorkeling, kayaking and water skiing.
- Average annual Kapaa hotel
price: $251 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: Courtyard Kaua'i at Coconut Beach – current TripAdvisor
pricing as low as $259 per night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$585 round-trip from ORD (Chicago)
to LIH (Lihue, Kauai)
2. Waco,
Texas
Located in central Texas, Waco
is home to major attractions such as the Dr. Pepper Museum, which
pays homage to the locally invented soft drink, as well as the Waco
Mammoth National Monument, a fossil site that is home to the bones
of Columbian mammoths. Travelers can also explore the Brazos River,
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and may even catch a glimpse
of local home remodeling stars Chip and
Joanna Gaines around town!
- Average annual Waco hotel
price: $117 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: Comfort Suites Waco North –
current TripAdvisor pricing as low as $98 per night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$275 round-trip from EWR (Newark,
New Jersey) to ACT (Waco,
Texas)
3. Wilmington, North
Carolina
Wilmington
is a vibrant riverfront city with the pedestrian-friendly Riverwalk
winding along the Cape Fear River, connecting many of the city's
charming shops, cafés, and nightlife with waterfront hotels, parks
and the Port City Marina. Annual festivals, such as Riverfest,
Wilmington Beer Week and the world-famous North Carolina Azalea
Festival, attract crowds year-round.
- Average annual Wilmington
hotel price: $141 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: Courtyard Wilmington
Downtown/Historic District – current TripAdvisor pricing as low as
$107 per night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$180 round-trip from MIA (Miami) to ILM (Wilmington, North Carolina)
4. Bend,
Oregon
Bend is a
natural playground for adventure lovers – travelers can enjoy
hiking and fishing along the Deschutes River, mountain biking and
skiing at Mt. Bachelor, and after building up their appetite,
eating at local restaurants and famed breweries and pubs.
Bend is a great spot for
family-friendly fun as well, with no-fee museums and ski areas for
children under 12.
- Average annual Bend hotel
price: $170 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: Riverhouse on the Deschutes – current TripAdvisor pricing as low
as $88 per night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$293 round-trip from DFW
(Dallas/Fort Worth) to RDM
(Redmond, Oregon)
5. Boulder,
Colorado
A mecca for the physically fit, Boulder draws travelers who love the great
outdoors to its 30,000 acres of unspoiled land, 200 miles of
trails, and city-center paths and rivers. Nestled in the foothills
of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is
also just a stone's throw from exceptional skiing and
snowshoeing.
- Average annual Boulder
hotel price: $227 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: Boulder Adventure Lodge –
current TripAdvisor pricing as low as $77 per night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$47 round-trip from DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) to DEN (Denver)
6. Paso Robles,
California
Located in central California, Paso
Robles, or "Pass of the Oaks," is close to mountains,
beaches and deserts. This region is renowned for wine-making, and
is home to more than 170 wineries, 26,000 vineyard acres and 40
varietals of wine. In addition to touring the popular vineyards,
travelers can visit the thermal springs, which are said to have
healing powers, or one of the more modern spring resorts in the
area.
- Average annual Paso Robles
hotel price: $233 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: The Oaks Hotel – current
TripAdvisor pricing as low as $138
per night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$215 round-trip from DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) to SBP (San Luis Obispo, California)
7. Richmond,
Virginia
Travelers can discover an essential chapter of America's history in
the cobblestone streets, river walks and monuments of Richmond. Originally a colonial settlement,
Virginia's capital is now a
thriving hub for culture, shopping and outdoor fun. Travelers can
learn about Civil War history, stroll along the canal downtown or
test their nerves whitewater rafting on the James River.
- Average annual Richmond
hotel price: $129 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites
Richmond/Glenside – current
TripAdvisor pricing as low as $112
per night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$133 round-trip from MIA (Miami) to RIC (Richmond, Virginia)
8. Greenville, South
Carolina
The charming Southern city boasts a thriving
arts scene, hundreds of restaurants, shops and boutiques, popular
annual festivals, numerous historic sites and museums housing
significant collections. Greenville also features a one-of-a-kind
"floating" suspension bridge and is set against the scenic Blue
Ridge Mountains.
- Average annual Greenville
hotel price: $144 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: La Quinta Inn & Suites
Greenville Haywood – current TripAdvisor pricing as low as
$96 per night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$170 round-trip from EWR
(Newark, New Jersey) to GSP
(Greenville–Spartanburg, South
Carolina)
9. Omaha,
Nebraska
Not just a flyover city, Omaha
blends down-home charm and with urban chic. With a wealth of local
breweries and a thriving music and art scene, Omaha has beer and song options to please many
traveler types. History buffs can visit local museums to learn
about the city's pioneer history along the Lewis & Clark
National Historic Trail.
- Average annual Omaha hotel
price: $129 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: Fairfield Inn & Suites
Omaha Downtown – current TripAdvisor pricing as low as $112 per night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$175 round-trip from ORD (Chicago)
to OMA (Omaha,
Nebraska)
10. Lexington,
Kentucky
Lexington is known as
Bluegrass Country and as the Horse Capital of the World, but
travelers don't have be avid thoroughbred fans to enjoy the natural
beauty, culture and history of the city. There are also many hiking
trails through forests, meadows and gentle creeks, as well as
historic landmarks, such as the Ashland estate of Henry Clay.
- Average annual Lexington
hotel price: $136 per night
- Highly-rated value hotel: Country Inn & Suites By
Carlson, Lexington – current
TripAdvisor pricing as low as $88 per
night
- Great airfare found on TripAdvisor: As low as
$135 round-trip from ORD
(Chicago) to LEX (Lexington, Kentucky)
Travelers' Choice Destinations on the Rise — World:
1. Ishigaki, Japan
2. Kapaa, Hawaii
3. Nairobi,
Kenya
4. Halifax,
Canada
5. Gdansk, Poland
6. San Jose, Costa
Rica
7. Riga, Latvia
8. Rovinj, Croatia
9. Nerja, Spain
10. Casablanca,
Morocco
For the complete list of Travelers' Choice Destinations on the
Rise award-winners for 2018, as well as the latest reviews
and candid traveler photos, visit:
www.TripAdvisor.com/TravelersChoice-DestinationsOnTheRise.
Travelers can read the latest reviews and compare prices from
more than 200 sites to find the lowest prices on the right hotel
for their trip at www.TripAdvisor.com.
Methodology
Destinations determined by year-over-year
increase in positive TripAdvisor traveler review ratings for
accommodations, restaurants and attractions, and increase in search
and booking interest from October
2016 to October 2017.
Average annual city hotel prices based on TripAdvisor hotel
price comparison data from 1/1/17 -
11/30/17.
Highly-rated value hotels have at least four out of five bubbles
on TripAdvisor and have a nightly rate that costs less than the
city annual average from January 9 –
15, 2018, as available.
Lowest flight prices found based on a TripAdvisor search of
hundreds of sites on 12/26/17 for
round-trip fares for the next 12 months from five popular U.S.
airport hubs (CHI, DFW, LAX, MIA, NYC) to the closest major airport to each
destination.
About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor, the world's largest
travel site**, enables travelers to unleash the full potential of
every trip. With over 570 million reviews and opinions
covering the world's largest selection of travel listings worldwide
-- covering 7.3 million accommodations, airlines, attractions, and
restaurants -- TripAdvisor provides travelers with the wisdom of
the crowds to help them decide where to stay, how to fly, what to
do and where to eat. TripAdvisor also compares prices from more
than 200 hotel booking sites so travelers can find the lowest price
on the hotel that's right for them. TripAdvisor-branded sites are
available in 49 markets, and are home to the world's largest travel
community of 455 million average monthly unique visitors*, all
looking to get the most out of every trip. TripAdvisor: Know
better. Book better. Go better.
The subsidiaries and affiliates of TripAdvisor, Inc.
(NASDAQ:TRIP) own and operate a portfolio of websites under 20
other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com,
www.bookingbuddy.com, www.citymaps.com,
www.cruisecritic.com,www.familyvacationcritic.com,
www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com,
www.eltenedor.com, www.iens.nl and www.dimmi.com.au),
www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk,
www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.housetrip.com, www.jetsetter.com,
www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com,
www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com
and www.viator.com.
*Source: TripAdvisor log files, average monthly unique visitors,
Q3 2017
**Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites,
worldwide, July 2017
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